Services for Foreign Students (orientation, tutoring etc.)

Orientation

Orientation takes place during the first week of each semester. A lot of useful information on living in Finland and studying at JAMK is provided during the orientation.

Exchange and Double Degree students:
All exchange/double degree students are expected to take part in the orientation (excluding Agricultural and Rural Industries Exchange Study Programme and Health and Social Studies students arriving only for practical training in the middle of semester; there is no separate orientation for late arrivals, but the students shall receive the orientation material and are expected to get themselves familiar with the material independently).

Autumn Orientation:
22 August 2019 - 23 August 2019

Spring Orientation:
School of Technology, School of Health and Social Studies, Teacher Education College:
2 January 2020 and 3 January 2020

School of Business:
6 February 2020 - 7 February 2020

Orientation schedule and programme is sent to the accepted students via email together with the acceptance and information letter.

Further information about Exchange/Double Degree Student orientation: incoming(at)jamk.fi

Foreign Degree Students in English-tuition degree programmes:
Exchange student orientation is not intended for degree students. Instead, Schools may organize degree programme specific orientations. Further information from the respective Schools.

Information package

Exchange and double degree students will receive a Letter of Acceptance and a Welcome Letter providing useful information for preparing for the upcoming exchange period from the International Services within some weeks after the application period has ended.

An Information Package of JAMK University of Applied Sciences (including information on studying at JAMK, user-account information for using the JAMK network, a meal subsidy card for student priced lunch, forms for discounts for public transport, signed Learning Agreement, Guide for Exchange Students, Jyväskylä city guide and map) will be handed out to the exchange and double degree students upon arrival by their tutors.

Further information:
incoming(at)jamk.fi

Foreign Degree Students will receive Letter of Admission and all the relevant information and documents related to degree studies at JAMK from the Schools/Degree Programmes they are accepted to and from the Admissions Office/Student Services.

Further information:
admissions(at)jamk.fi

Tutoring

JAMK and the Student Union JAMKO provide tutoring for all degree, exchange and double degree students of JAMK. The fellow-students trained for the task help the new students in matters concerning studies and student support services. They also provide guidance in practical matters, e.g. housing, permits and getting adjusted to a new culture and country.

Exchange and double degree students: International Services provides a list of exchange and double degree students who have applied within the application periods and who have been accepted for an exchange period at JAMK to JAMKO, who is responsible for finding a tutor for each student. The tutor is advised to contact the exchange/double degree student via email well before the beginning of the exchange period and to meet the student in Jyväskylä upon arrival.

Foreign degree students: Schools and degree programmes provide lists of accepted degree students to JAMKO, who is responsible for finding a tutor for each student. The tutor will meet the student after the studies at JAMK have begun. If the student needs assistance upon arrival, it is advisable to contact JAMKO and the tutor via email beforehand to agree how and when to meet the tutor in Jyväskylä for the first time.

Further information about tutoring:
kvtutor(at)jamko.fi / International tutoring on JAMKO's website

Survival Kit

For the exchange and double degree students, who do not want to bring their own linen and kitchen utensils all the way to Jyväskylä, there is a service called "Survival Kit". It is a rentable package with basic kitchenware, a blanket, a pillow and sheets to help you get settled at the beginning of your stay in Jyväskylä and get you through the first weeks. Keep in mind that you will still probably need to acquire some extra items along the line, even if you rent the Survival Kit. The service is provided by JAMKO, the Student Union of JAMK. Please check JAMKO’s webpage for a picture and more detailed description of Survival Kits.

Service not available for foreign degree students.

Contact and more info about Survival Kits:
survivalkit(at)jamko.fi

JAMKO International Club

JAMKO, the Student Union of JAMK is also in charge of the International Club a.k.a. IC, which organizes culturally oriented events, travels, tours and parties for students. These events add some spice to the Finnish students' event calendars and bring great experiences to exchange students as well. Foreign students get to see Finland at its best and Finnish students get a chance to internationalize and practice their language skills while having a good time.

Contact for the International Club:
ic(at)jamko.fi

Friend Family Programme

The International Services of JAMK coordinates a Finnish Friend Family programme for our foreign students and Finnish families. Students staying in Finland for a semester or longer can participate in the programme, which will help them know more about the Finnish culture and way of life through a local friend or family.

The students fill in the application form online to enroll for the programme (please note that registration happens annually). The coordinator of the programme needs the requested information to match each student with the most suitable friend or family. The students will hear news about the friend families after the studies at JAMK have begun. All notifications happen through the students JAMK e-mail address.

Further information about the Friend Family Programme:
friendfamily(at)jamk.fi.

Apply for Friend Family Programme

Fill in the online application form here

Student Meals

Every campus has a student cafeteria that serves lunch. For students entitled to a discount, the price of a warm meal in a student restaurant is between 2.60-4.50 euros on weekdays, depending on the chosen meal option.

Exchange and double degree students will receive the meal subsidy cards for getting the student priced lunch in their information packages upon arrival. Foreign degree students receive the meal subsidy cards as guided in the School specific orientation after they have begun their studies.

More information about the student restaurants in the Study Guide.

Guidance

JAMK offers guidance for foreign students in many different ways and in different stages.

Exchange and double degree students

Exchange and double degree students are served and guided throughout the exchange period, from applying to arrival, studying and leaving for home, by International Services and the Academic Advisors of the Schools. International Services gives general guidance concerning different stages of the exchange and administrates the documents related to the exchange. The Academic Advisors give School-specific guidance related to the studies and are responsible for helping the students to complete their study plans, i.e. help the students choose the courses they will complete during their exchange. Both International Services and Academic Advisors help with any difficulties the student might face during the exchange.

Further information: incoming(at)jamk.fi

Foreign degree students

Foreign degree students are served and guided by the admissions office when applying. Early on in the studies, the key counsellors are the career and peer tutors. Career tutors are teachers at JAMK who closely support and monitor the progress of the student’s studies. Peer tutors are fellow-students who provide peer support and guidance especially at the beginning of the studies. In addition to the career tutor, every School at JAMK has a study counsellor who students can contact with issues related to special support needed with studies, learning, time management, fatigue, motivation, substance abuse and/or mental health problems. The students can also contact the study psychologist regarding these matters. Additionally, the Student Services guides and helps degree students with the practicalities related to studying throughout the studies. If you have been accepted to JAMK as a degree student, read more about guidance in the student intra and in the Study Guide.

Further information about foreign degree students’ guidance:
admissions(at)jamk.fi (when applying)

Language Center, IT Services, Library Services

Language Center

Foreign exchange and degree students can study Finnish in groups of different levels. Other language courses of different levels where teaching is in English are also offered. The Language Centre is responsible for all language and communication teaching at JAMK.

Further information about the Finnish language courses and other languages
kielikeskus(at)jamk.fi

IT Services

All students have access to the university computing services for free. Students need a personal user account in order to have access to the IT-Services. Exchange students will receive their user account information in their information packages upon arrival. Foreign degree students receive their user accounts as guided in the School specific orientation after they have begun their studies. The IT-Services include Computer Labs, wireless networks around the campus, JAMK e-mail account and mailing lists, electronic study related programmes like ASIO student management system, student intra and OPTIMA.

Further information about the IT-Services

Library Services

JAMK Library services are available for students, staff and everyone else, who needs professional information. The library is one of the largest in Central Finland and most of the library services are free of charge.

Further information about the Library Services